Duchesse de Polignac

Yesterday I went to see the movie hit "Marie Antoinette" by Sofia Coppola. Great movie, I was really impressed by how everything was set so perfectly together; the costumes and scenery, the atmosphere at Versailles and of course the performances by the actors. Kirsten Dunst was absolutely the perfect actress for the role as Marie. Her sweetness and youthful grace shined through the whole movie. All though, it was the beauty of the Australian actress Rose Byrne as Duchesse de Polignac that caught my eyes. She was might not as innocent as delightful Marie, but her smile lit up the movie just as much.

Good bye, Norma Jean

Today I held my Marylin Monroe presentation. I think it went just fine, I mean, she is an interesting person, so everybody was very into what I said, and I didn't get any particular nervous-breakdown. I can tell, she really does fascinates me, Marilyn. From being a young, insecure girl grown up in several foster homes to become a world wide sex symbol, a woman who was supposed to look self-assured, I believe Marilyn was vulnerable - all along. And between all the different roles she had to play - was she ever able to give them, give us, that little glimpse of what the real Norma Jean Mortensen, which was her birth-name, was like?
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Here's some you might didn't know about her:
- Her father was a Norwegian named Martin Edward Mortensen, but Norma never knew her father and was later baptized Norma Jean Baker.
- Gladys Baker, Norma's mother, had psychological problems which prevented her from keeping her job, and she was committed to a mental institution.
- When she was 16, her foster parents couldn't afford to keep her, and Norma had to marry her 21-year old neighbour, Jimmy Doherty.
- She was a Jew.
- She had likely a high IQ.
- She was a brunette.
- She preformed in front of service men in Korea during her honeymoon with Joe Dimaggio.
- She was married four times.
- Her mother never knew her daughter was famous.
- She died of an overdose of sleeping pills at her Brentwood home, April 5th, 1962. She was then 36 years old.
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This is Elton John's famous tribute to Marilyn - to Norma Jean. The song is called "Candle in the Wind" and was later circumscribed to princess Diana.

Goodbye Norma Jean

Though I never knew you at all

You had the grace to hold yourself

While those around you crawled

They crawled out of the woodwork

And they whispered into your brain

They set you on the treadmill

And they made you change your name

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And it seems to me you lived your life

Like a candle in the wind

Never knowing who to cling to

When the rain set in

And I would have liked to have known you

But I was just a kid

Your candle burned out long before

Your legend ever did

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Loneliness was tough

The toughest role you ever played

Hollywood created a superstar

And pain was the price you paid

Even when you died

Oh the press still hounded you

All the papers had to say

Was that Marilyn was found in the nude

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Goodbye Norma Jean

From the young man in the 22nd row

Who sees you as something as more than sexual

More than just our Marilyn Monroe

We don't care

Heath & Michelle don't want to hear about it.

"And so theres many things I'd do. Like be your friend if you let me.

So if something upsets you or makes you unhappy in any way...

don't shoot your fat-ass mouth on me'cause l won't give a shit. Now move it out."

- Mama Morton (Queen Latifa), in the movie "Chicago"

Dressed for Golden Globe

My opinion...

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt:
He: Wearing a classic tux from the Swedish brand J. Lindeberg.
She: Wearing a ruched charcoal gray St. John gown.
I say: Finally they are sparkling on the red carpet together! This couldn't get more sophisticated. Golden couple of the evening!
+ Great to see such grown-up couple dressed preppy. I have never been a huge fan of Angelina's many tattoos or neither her knives-obsession, and I'm glad to see them dressed up so mature.
- Not too creative.

Style points: 5/6

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Kate Winslet:
Wearing a draped white Azzarro column dress and plenty of Chopard jewels.
I say: The English rose dazzled of elegance, yet this is a bit too classic and it is not appealing any statement what so ever. She looks good, but that's about it.
+ This is a good example of "simple is smart", and the dress does absolutely fit her female curves perfectly.
- Not so original, and a bit too boring.
i Style points: 4/6

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Cameron Diaz:
Wearing a pale tulle gown from Valentino.
I say: No! I've got nothing else to say than TOO MUCH! Is the break-up with Justin affecting her usually so good-looking style?
+ Uhm... well, her hair looks good.
- Too many ruffles.
i Style points: 2/6
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Penelope Cruz:
The good friend of Karl Lagerfeld is wearing a beautiful black Chanel couture gown designed just for her.
I say: A strike! Not too covered up, not too slutty. Not too boring, not too much. Just enough goth too be trendy, yet not depressive. Penelope balances it perfectly with this dress. + The colour, texture and fabrics goes together fabulously.
- Unfortunately, I've seen this before too. Amazing dress, but not breathtaking.
Style points: 5/6
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Beyonce Knowles:
Wearing a too-sexy, too-glitzy gown from Elie Saab.
I say: Gold is 'in' but you're not supposed to look like you have stumbled into your little sister's glitter-box. Beyonce drags the trend a bit too far, and it looks over dramatic, too skin-flashing - and teamed with the pose: a bit too wannabe-a-super-hot-diva.
+ Hey, the girl's got curves and she is not afraid to show 'em off. And she really does glows.
- The dress is making her look less sophisticated, other than celebrating her female body. Style points: 2/6 i

Drew Barrymore:
Wearing a gown from John Galliano for Christian Dior in cold pink.
I say: Hallelujah! This evening, Drew says good-bye bad girl and hello Greek goddess. Pure elegance.
+ Colour and shape fits her perfectly. She looks feminine and über cute. I'm impressed.
- Funny creation at her back.. :P
Style points: 5+/6

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Best make-up and hair: Reese Witherspoon. Straight is beautiful.

Celeb update: Lindsay goes to rehab

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Lindsay Lohan has checked into rehab, she said in a statement Wednesday. "I have made a proactive decision to take care of my personal health," she said. "I appreciate your well wishes and ask that you please respect my privacy at this time." A source close to the actress tells PEOPLE: "Lindsay is in a very positive frame of mind and is looking forward to making a positive change in her life."

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The Hollywood wild child has earlier been criticized for heavy partying, and lately the 20-year old actress have been seen at exclusive bars and night clubs along with party queens like Kate Moss, Britney Spears and the one and only Paris Hilton. A guard working at one of the most famous night clubs in L.A. recently told Cosmo Lindsay would usually bring a crew of seven/eight people. In November, Lindsay could tell Oprah Winfrey she was "not a party girl". But she did added; "Is it a crime to go dancing with your friends?".

Quotes of the day: Worrying

"Ignore your problems and they will pass you by"

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- Halvor is living on the bright side of life

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"Worrying does not empty tomorrow of it's troubles,
it emptys today of it's strength"

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- Unknown

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"Scarlet has a secret" by Sue Anna Joe

Citylife

"Urban Love" - Unknown photographer

We are saving the world..

Every year, millions of money are sent to those we believe 'need it most'. For children in Asia, homeless in Russia and HIV-infected in Africa the money we send is a blessing. We all know they need and deserve it more than we do, we've got too much anyway. We have chosen to believe we are doing the right thing, the money we sent are saving parts of this unfair world. The question is, are we doing it right? How do we really believe we can create a perfect world? Couse isn't that what we really want? A world without poverty and with medicines for all? How can we do it? By sending money?

So many people have different answers to this question. Some, quite many, means the best thing is to make sure there's education for all. Others mean we should build houses or villages to the poor people, or bring them clean water. All though, most people send their money without questioning what or where they are going. As long as the charity-organisations use them wisely, and give them to a project they believe in, it's okay. Anything more to ask of you shouldn't be necessary. So you are saving the world with your eyes closed. Do you believe in turning Africa into a west-inspired continent? Should we use our money to built villages and cities in China just like the ones we see in England? Should the Romainian children go to schools like the ones in Japan? Or should we just give them our money and hope they will make the best out of it? How can white men ever be able to do it the African way, or the Asian way, and still do it right?

Madonna obviously thinks she is doing the right thing, now when she recently adopted a little African boy. Angelina Jolie, mother of two adopted children, disagrees. Angelina is now attacking Madonna for adopting a child 'illegally', reports Daily Mail. She said the singer should never have visited an impoverished African country with the sole intention of choosing an infant. Her comments follow accusations that Madonna used her fame and money to speed the adoption of one-year-old David Banda late last year.
'Madonna knew the situation in Malawi, where he was born,' said Miss Jolie, who has adopted two Third World youngsters of her own.
'It's a country where there is no real legal framework for adoption.
'Personally, I prefer to stay on the right side of the law. I would never take a child away from a place where adoption is illegal.'
Miss Jolie, 31, also made clear she was shocked by Madonna's decision to take David from the country where his father still lives.

I'm wondering; is it right to adopt a child away from it's home and country, even though it will get a welthier life in the white mens land. I can't help mentioning the wise statement which goes like this: "If you give a man a fish he will have his dinner for the night, but if you give him a fishing rod, he will have dinner for the rest of his life".

Taking a child away from its country does not solve the problem, it is just a temperery sulution just as a 'west in the east'-solution. We will never be able to save the world thinking one by one, day by day. It's all about tomorrow.

Quote of the Day

"You don't love a girl because
She is pretty,
She is pretty because

You love her".

- Philip, 15

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"Walk to Paradise Garden" by W. Eugene Smith

A Dark Story

This is the very last sentence of the story I wrote for my Norwegian term-test. The story is about a young girl from Africa who comes to Norway and falls in love with a Norwegian boy who seems perfect in her eyes. By the time she meets him her life is gray and all she can see in people are their dark secrets. He, comes to her like "the brightest light in a world of shadows". Soon, their lives get twisted up side down when they start partying and becomes a result of what living in a ghetto can do to people. The picture of a happy couple breaks by teenage-drunkenness, and soon they are just floating around in the universe of street-life, sex, drugs and alcohol. The whole story ends when a baby suddenly takes form in the girls stomach, and when he, in a moment of desperation, puts a bullet in it.

"Because I know one day you will change your mind, but when you do you will realize it's too late, and then you will see, deep inside you will see, how beautiful I am."

Picture by Sue Anna Joe

Buying Pieces

New years resolution NR. 1: Never buy clothes I know I will only use a couple of times, or clothes that I know doesn't goes with any of my other clothes. Instead, I shall buy full outfits, not pieces. So, here's a suggestion:

The white top from H&M has exactly the kind of volume which makes the skinny-jean from Sass&Bide balanced. With adorable ankle-boots from Primark and a (way too expensive) Chanel 2.55 purse the outfit gets that little touch of femininity I love.

Seriously Dressing

I'm sure you can dress to impress, but can you dress, to kill?

Spring-time at Shopbop

Yes, someone is finally starting to think forward. And Shopbop is so right, those sunny days is really not far ahead! With the seasons light, soft and adorable fabrics it's time to start dreaming of, exactly, brighter days.

Winter once again

The snow came at last. Well, it' would sound stupid for a girl like me living so close to the North Pole complaining about snow and frost, but yes, I am. At the beginning it's really nice to have fluffy, soft dots of snow around, everything just seems a bit lighter. But then, after a few weeks, that light, beautiful snow turns into brown, dirty slush. The Winter Wonderland is suddenly gone.

I understand that snowboarders and people who likes skiing a lot feel some love for this season, but for me, who don't do any such winter activity or simply like to roll around in the snow, it's far from a blessing. First of all I usually have bad time, so I'm rather dependent on having a bike around. Snow + Ice = 0 bicycling. And then comes all those heavy, huge and not so feminine winter clothes. Well, okay, I should stop annoying myself with all these thoughts about this cold season, I can't do anything about it anyway. So, let's just adore it while it's still white and fluffy.